Monday, August 30, 2010

Sorry everyone! Things have been a little hectic here and have not been on the ball with things! I hope is well with you all! We are good now Khloey is over her little sickness and I am getting over a UTI! This weekend we went to the beach wanted to get a visit in before fall comes! It was great! But I do not think eating a picnic on the beach with a 19 month old was a good idea! Lets just say half our meal we did not get to eat because it was covered in sand! So NEVER again will be eat on the beach lol! At the end of my post I will share some pictures we got!

Weather here has been very pleasant for a little while. But I think that could be ending. Earl is coming very close to our coast and with it being a category 3 I am sure we will be getting some of the effects of it!!

Also be looking tonight or tomorrow night for our favorite home-style potato recipe!

2.Prepare Peppers, Cut tops off, Remove stem, and clean inside *Also cut a little bit off the bottoms so when you fill them they will sit steady*. Drizzle with Olive oil and salt and pepper. Bake at 450 upside down for 10-15 Min's or until they are charred a bit on the outside.

3. While peppers are cooking prepare the meat sauce. Brown Ground beef Drain and set aside. In the same pan saute shallots and garlic for about 3 Min's. *should not have to add any oil because there will be a little left in the pan after you pour out the brown beef*

4. Return beef to the pan along with tomato soup, ketchup, and chili powder. Mix well and bring to a simmer. Turn heat off and add rice. Mix well.

5. Spoon mixture into peppers. Top with cheese. Then top with tops of peppers. Bake at 350 for about 10 Min's or til cheese is melted.

According to size of your bell peppers this will make 6-10 stuffed peppers! Now I only done three peppers but I still made the full amount of filling so I could cool and store in the fridge for our lunches tomorrow! But if you want only 3-4 peppers I would cut the filling recipe in half!

This is what we had last night! I was going to post it after the Stir Fry but I got too sleepy lol! So here ya go...

Down here in the south Cubed Steak and Gravy = Home Comfort. Its not all that good for you but hey its not like you are going to eat it once a week so allow yourself to indulge every once in a while. A lot of people are scared to cook Cubed Steak. They find that it ends up tough and rubbery. A couple keeps to make sure that does not happen is...

1. When looking at cubed steak you want to see bright red. If there is a lot for white(Grissel) then your going to have a tough time getting that tender. So the least white the better.

2. The Thinner the better. Choose thinner pieces over the thicker ones.

2. Mix together flour, salt, pepper, and onion powder.3. Dredge steaks with flour mixture and reserve left over flour mixture.4. In a frying pan or cast iron skillet heat oil. You want it to come about 1/2 inch up the side of the pan. Fry steaks for 3-5 Min's on each side till golden brown. Set aside on a paper towel.

5. Pour some oil out BUT leave enough in the pan to cover the bottom completely. Add reserved flour and cook till browned stirring it constantly with a fork, wooden spoon, or spatula.

6. Add in 2 1/4 cups of water gradually as you continue to stir until well incorporated. Turn heat to low, add in steaks, cover with lid, and simmer for 30-45 Min's.

After cooking for 45 mins!!! MMM

***After frying up the meat and making the gravy you could put this all in the crockpot and cook on low for 4-6 hours! And if you done it in the crock pot you could also use a thicker cut of cubed steak sense you are cooking it longer! MMMM***

--------------------------------------Mashed Potato's

Ingredients

5 lbs potato's(Boiled in well salted water and drained well)1/2 cup half and half5 Tablespoons of butterSalt & Pepper to Taste

Directions

1. Peel and Dice Potato's. Place in a pot with cold well salted water. Bring to a boil and boil til fork tender about 10 to 15 Min's. Drain well. Return to pot.

2. Add in Butter and mix with mixer til melted. Add Half and Half and Mix til smooth and creaming about 3Min's. Taste and season with salt and pepper to your liking! Place on plate and smoother with gravy MM.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

I am so sorry for the delay in post's. My daughter has been down with a yucky virus and just now has stopped running a fever and eating a little bit. I hate seeing her sick and when she is sick she wants to be rocked and cuddled (I love the part tho)! But good new she is feeling better and I am hoping she will continue to get better. I have two recipes to share tonight. I will post them in separate blogs tho.

This recipe I am about to share is my take on a Stir Fry. It is a mix between a Lo Mien and a Stir Fry. I found a Lo Mien Recipe I wanted to try along with a Stir Fry I wanted to try. I liked the sweet element I found in the Lo Mien which was the honey of course. Then I enjoyed all the veggies that the stir fry had. So I came up with this recipe! And it turned out amazing! Its a little work but I promise once you eat it you will not be sorry and the Stir Fry/ Lo Miens at the Chinese restaurants will never compare!

***You will Notice in the recipe Red & Green Bell Pepper's! You will not see them in my dish because they were not on sale that week! But if you like Red and Green Bell Pepper please use it cause it just adds another flavor element and is so yummy!***-----------------------------------------

1. In a medium, non-reactive bowl, combine the chicken with 2 1/2 teaspoons of Honey, 1 1/2 Tablespoons Vinegar and 1/4 cup Soy Sauce. Mix this together and coat the chicken well. Cover and let marinate in the refrigerator for 1-3 hours. No longer because the vinger will start to break down the chicken and give it a weird texture.

2. In another medium bowl, combine the Chicken Broth, Water, 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil, Pepper, remaining Honey, Vinegar and Soy Sauce. Then In a separate small bowl you want to dissolve the cornstarch with 2 Tablespoons of the mixture listed above and slowly add to the bulk of the mixture, stirring well. Set aside.

4.Cook the spaghetti just shy of being done, drain and set aside.

5.Heat 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil in a large saucepan over high heat until it starts to smoke. Add the chicken and stir-fry until browned. Then set aside on a plate.*You want them to have a little char on them.*

6. Heat the remaining olive oil in the pan over high heat. Add the Garlic, Onions, and Bell Peppers saute til Caramelized. Add Carrot's, & Broccoli and stir-fry for until tender but with a slight bite and lightly Caramelized. Add the reserved sauce mixture and then the chicken. Simmer until the sauce thickens. Add the reserved noodles and toss gently, coating everything well with the sauce, Cook for an additional 2 to 3 mins so the flavors can get in the noodles.

Monday, August 16, 2010

How was everyone's Monday? Ahhh mine was the definite definition of MONDAY lol. Monday - WORST DAY OF THE WEEK! It has just been a what can go wrong will go wrong day. Bout to cook supper Corn Dog's & Waffle Fry's tonight fried in Canola oil. I LOVE CANOLA OIL. So no recipe for ya tonight. But tomorrow check in for my Sweet & Salt Stir Fry Recipe. It has chicken, broccoli, carrots, onions, pasta, and the perfect amount of salty and sweet flavor! I call it a stir fry but its kinda like a stir fry and lo mien mix lol. Delicious tho! I hope everyone has a great Monday and if not lets just look forward to a much better day tomorrow right?

I want to share with you all that Friday I started working for a company called Melaleuca. I would love for everyone to keep me in there prayers that this works our for me. I really need the extra cash so I am hoping it works right for me. If you would like to Know more about Melaleuca's Product please contact me by email at khloeysmomndad@aol.com. They have some great house hold and personal products. Cheaper then the grocery store's and also better for you and the enviroment!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Hi everyone, is everyone ready to start a new week? I hate the weekend is over but I am hoping for a great week! Well it's time for bed so I am going leave yaw with a wonderful recipe. Maybe try it this week. Very inexpensive and very tasty!

About Me

My names Rita. I am happily married as of 6/28/08. I also have a 18 month old baby girl. Her name is Khloey. My mother, husband, and baby girl mean the world to me and I dont know where I would be without them. I love to cook thats like my favorite Hobbie if you wanna call it that LOL!